Effect of magnetized water on physiological development of quinoa variety Pata de Venado

Abstract

Introduction: Water is essential, but high-quality water is necessary for optimal agricultural production. Objective: evaluate the effect of magnetized water and hardness conditions on the development of quinoa plants Chenopodium quinoa Willd, during the phenological growth stage. Method: the study was developed at the Salache Experimental Campus of the Technical University of Cotopaxi, was conducted under a randomized complete block design, with four treatments and five repetitions. The treatments consisted of water magnetized at intensities of 1000, 3000 and 5000 Gauss, and a control treatment without magnetization. The net demand for irrigation was 53.61 L m⁻² month⁻¹, calculated using the Oudin methodology. Results: the chemical analysis of irrigation water showed that the initial water presented high hardness, with values exceeding 300 mg L⁻¹ of CaCO₃. The chemical analysis of water showed modifications associated with the use of magnetic fields, with increases in pH and electrical conductivity observed, especially in the treatment of 5000 Gauss, as well as a reduction in total hardness, RAS and concentrations of minerals, while boron showed an increase.  In the substrate, evaluated at 25 days, differences were recorded between treatments in residual contents of minerals and pH. The agronomic variables showed significant, highlighting the treatments subjected to intensities of 3000 and 5000 Gauss. Conclusion: the results indicate that irrigation with magnetized water favors the development of quinoa.